US Judge Imposes Penalty against G & G

The Honorable Paul J. Luckern issued an Enforcement Initial Determination on April 17 that finds Ninestar, which sells ink cartridges under the "G&G" and "OA-100" brands, repeatedly imported into the United States and sold after importation cartridges that infringe certain patents owned by Epson in violation of the General Exclusion Order and certain Limited Exclusion Orders and Cease and Desist Orders issued on October 19, 2007 by the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC").

The decision recommended that the ITC impose a penalty of US$ 20,504,974.16 jointly and severally against Ninestar Technology Co. Ltd. of Zhuhai, China and its two affiliated US companies, Ninestar US and Town Sky.

The judge also found four other companies violated the ITC's Orders and recommended penalties in the amount of US$ 9,700,000 against Mipo International Ltd. and Mipo America Ltd., as well as US$ 700,000 against Ribbon Tree USA Inc. doing business as Cana-Pacific Ribbons Inc. and Apex Distributing Inc.

The penalty against Ninestar is the largest penalty that has ever been recommended by an ITC judge.

Penalties have been assessed only infrequently in the reported history of the ITC. They are collected by and for the United States government.

Back To Schools Specials (Inkjet)

Back To School Deals

Well it's that time of year when we all have to get the kids ready for school, and now it's not only clothes and paper, but computer supplies as well. Thankfully, most of the major retailers are also aware of this and they are also advertising back to school specials.

On-Line Market Offers Deals (Inkjet)

It was only a Matter of time before the on-line discount market got on the bandwagon, and offered deals for Back To School. Metawatch Inkjet Supplies for one has been offering discounts for back to schoolers for years and has now just recently reduced their prices literally across the board for Epson, HP, and Canon Inkjet Cartridge products.

Discounts for highly discounted products.

Just when everyone thought that they could already get great deals on-line, along comes this highly discounted product (Inkjet Cartridges), and their distributors manage to cut their prices for back to school specials. Why do they do it ? Well, typically stock starts to pool during the summer months due the the large volume of consumers on vacation, so their market is somewhat slow in getting back into the fray. Offering back to school specials provides for a foot in the door into the newly purchased printer market for thrifty shoppers.Its your best time of year to stock up on supplies as the prices tend to be the lowest of the year !

R-Jet Tek Offers New Canon Chip Resetter for InkJet Cartridge Refilling and Remanufacturing

Inkjet technology leaders R-Jet Tek announces a new Canon Chip Resetter for PGI-5 and CLI-8 Series Cartridges.

Cartridge designs increasingly contain integrated electronics that monitor ink levels and provide an on-screen message when the ink in the cartridge is empty.

The Canon PGI-5 and CLI-8 series cartridges are two such examples.The new Canon Chip Resetter allows you to completely restore the cartridge’s ink monitoring capability.

When refilled and installed in a printer, the cartridge will “read” full, and the end user will have use of the ink monitoring function.The new Canon Chip Resetter works on PGI-5 and CLI-8 cartridges, including the CLI-8 color cartridges.

T069 Cartridge Compatibility

If you search around the internet long enough trying to find the best price for your T069 series cartridges you'll most certaily bump into sites that are selling these cartridges at super low prices.

Buyers Beware !

Like all to many things in life, sometimes a good deal isn't as good as it seems.

As a result of the recent ruling in the U.S. against G&G (and others), many companies in the U.S. were caught off guard , and had stock they could no longer move in the U.S. marketplace.

Well low and behold, all of a sudden there are Canadian companies selling off Epson Compatible cartridges (an older series) that support earlier series of printers manufactured before March 2007 for the T069 series. They also have expiry dates about 12 months in the future (From Now) versus the regular 24 months that is more typical of newly manufactured products.

So, for now if you need these types of cartridges for your older model printer, you might just be able to take advantage of these specials. Beware if you have problems, these vendors do not have a compatible product for all makes and models, and their future inventory of these cartrides is limited as they are no longer being manufactured.

Regardless of the warranty being offered by these other start-up companies, their products will have expired before the warranty is up, and or they may not be in a postion to provide a suitable alternative product when the time comes. They might not even continue to exist as suppliers at that time.

Metawatch, continues to offer current product model compatiblity , and is a well established vendor of choice for these products.

The choice is yours.

Kodak offers Stream Inkjet Technology

In addition to continuous and drop-on-demand inkjet systems, Kodak will feature its Stream Inkjet Technology, which "will serve as the cornerstone of our future inkjet product line," Isidre Rosello, general manager of Kodak Graphic Communications Group's Inkjet Printing Solutions and vice president of Eastman Kodak Co., said in a statement.

Kodak Stream Inkjet Technology is a continuous inkjet system that the company claims "enables offset class reliability, productivity, cost and quality with the full benefits of digital printing for high-volume commercial applications."

It will bring continuous inkjet printing into commercial printers that want the benefits of variable data, short run, personalization or versioning on jobs ordinarily printed on offset presses, according to Kodak.

While full-color continuous inkjet technology has limited users to printing on uncoated paper with dye/water-based inks or higher-cost inkjet coated substrates, Stream Inkjet Technology, says Kodak, will print on both clay-coated and uncoated papers.Developed from scratch for high volume, the Stream Concept Press is being demonstrated at a resolution above 600 dpi at high speeds.

The Stream Concept printhead can deliver monochrome offset-class variable-data-printing applications at up to 1,000 feet per minute, demonstrating the technology's "potential for hybrid printing," according to Kodak.

The first product with the new technology is to be an easily operated and serviced four-inch printhead designed to produce a deep black at 600 dpi on glossy substrates.

Finally Low Cost Inkjet Supplies available across Canada

Published on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Pointe-Fortune, May 21, 2008- Metawatch , a supplier specializing in third party (Epson, Canon and HP compatible and Remanufactured cartridges) Inkjet supplies continues to expand its customer base across Canada.

Metawatch, initially founded in response to high inkjet cartridge pricing, has now evolved into a fully independent, self supporting operational infrastructure with distribution capability across Canada.

Metawatch prides itself on supplying high quality, reliable products across Canada at some of the lowest prices available in the inkjet market backed by a 100% SATISFACTION guarantee makes them a safe choice for your investment in inkjet supplies.

To offset the high cost of shipping product across Canada they offer several price points to their customers.

Orders over $50.00 have free shipping while orders under $20.00 will cost you $10.99. Orders of $20-$30 are $8.50 and orders between $30-$50 will cost you $7.50 for delivery.

As products typically have a 2 year expiry date, clients are encouraged to purchase a 1 years supply (or more than $50.00) to maximize their savings.

Operating as an E-Commerce Mail order company, Metawatch has been able to keep operational costs at a minimum, and bring those savings directly back to their internet based clientele.

To protect its clients against industry product quality and supply issues Metawatch maintains strict quality standards and redundant supplier capabilities. This ensures the capability to provide product to its clients without interruption regardless of industry product availability or quality issues.

Marketing Contact Ken Flack - Metawatch
T: 450-612-
E: kflack@metawatch.ca
http://www.metwatch.ca

'Father of the Inkjet' moves on

to Assume Presidency of Seiko Epson

Seiko Epson Corp announced April 30, 2008, that Managing Director Minoru Usui will be promoted to President of the company. The current president, Seiji Hanaoka, will assume the post of Chairman.

Hanaoka says, "Mr Usui will have complete authority and I will be responsible for part of overseas operations." According to Hanaoka, Usui, who will assume the presidency, is "the father of the Inkjet" and has been working for many years on the development of piezometric heads found in inkjet printers. The personnel proposal will be formally approved at the shareholders meeting scheduled on June 25 2008.

As part of the personnel change, the President will be replaced in the final year of the company's three-year medium-range business plan. Hanaoka explains the reason for the replacement as follows. "When I assumed the presidency, our two major businesses, the finished product business and electronic the device business, ceased to function properly. However, things started to improve. We are in the middle of the medium-range business plan, but now is the time to create a new domain identity. Usui, who has no equal when it comes to products and technologies, will be the most appropriate person for our goal.

Expressing his resolution, future President Usui, said, "We would like to focus on piezometric head technologies, projectors, crystal oscillators, organic ELs and high-precision processing technologies. Our products are slightly biased toward consumer products. We would like to further expand our business in the fields of business and industry. Seiko Epson has been growing on its unique technologies. It excels in technological development as well as in manufacturing. We will continue to grow on 'unique technology and unique manufacturing'."

Mr Usui, born April 22 1955, is 53 years old. After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Engineering, he worked for a company related to ships for six months before joining Shinshu Seiki Co (now Seiko Epson Corp) in November 1979. He became Director in June 2002 and assumed the current post of Managing Director in October 2007. His motto is "Search for the Ultimate," which refers to the pursuit of the ultimate technology."

Usui was approached by Hanaoka in March 2008 regarding the promotion to President. "It was a bolt out of the blue," says Usui. "I am still 53. Part of me wanted to remain in the post of Chief Director of Production Technology Development a little longer," he confessed.

Lexmark Tries To Shed Cheap-Printer Image

In a Reuters news release

Lexmark International Inc said on Tuesday its first-quarter laser and inkjet printer sales declined and forecast further revenue softness, sending its shares down almost 12 percent.

The larger-than-expected 42 percent drop in inkjet printer sales .

Lexmark has responded to shrinking profits by shifting its consumer focus to higher-priced units and customers who print more.

Analyst Shannon Cross of Cross Research said the near-term profit growth that results from Lexmark's strategy of limiting sales of loss-making printers may be hard to sustain.
"It only works for so long, and then your installed base becomes too small and your supplies (sales) start to decline," she said.

Lexmark has been cutting costs and trimming prices in an effort to better compete with rivals such as Hewlett-Packard Co and Canon Inc. In October, it said it would consolidate operations in Mexico, including closing a plant and moving some 1,650 jobs to lower-cost countries.

The restructuring is expected to save $40 million this year.

However, concerns emerged on a conference call where analysts peppered Lexmark with questions about rising operating expenses, despite an ongoing efforts to cut costs, and possible lost business at electronics retailer Best Buy .

"Why does op-ex keep going up dramatically?," asked Sanford Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi. "It's up 500 or 600 basis points above where it was historically. Now three quarters into the restructuring initiative, and you are calling for op-ex to be up even more again."

In response, Chief Executive Paul Curlander said more work must be done to develop new products that target high-volume users, who buy more ink and supplies. Also Lexmark increased hiring in its enterprise sales force.

"Obviously we didn't see all of the demand generation results from that, as we hit market weakness and segment weakness here in the enterprise space," he added. "But that's where the majority of the op-ex increase has been coming."

Total first-quarter revenue fell 7 percent, to $1.18 billion from $1.26 billion one year ago. Laser and inkjet printer revenue declined 18 percent.

Despite analysts' persistent questioning, Curlander declined to comment specifically on a report that the Lexington, Kentucky-based company's inkjet printers are no longer being sold in Best Buy stores nationwide. He noted that shrinking its line of low-end units has in the past resulted in a reduction of retail shelf space.

"I think it was a little more aggravated this time because the overall market is weak and the category is declining for retailers—they are dedicating less space to the category overall," Curlander told Reuters. "We (will) take the hit as we pull back ... but then we go back to work to get it back and get some more shelf space."

Curlander said he sees "good growth" in laser supplies and the potential for "continued erosion in inkjet and user demand."

For the second quarter, supplies revenue are expected to be about flat year to year as continued growth in laser supplies will be offset by a decline in inkjet supplies.

Aftermakert Inkjet Price Forecast

Metawatch Canada continues to Offer industry first(s) by exceeding price discounts for average Aftermarket Desktop Ink Cartridge Prices.

Across all vendors, Metawatch Inkjet still supplies some of the lowest cost product to the market and has been able to maintain Quality and reliability levels exceeding 99.9%.

Static Control Components and Innovative Cartridge Technologies have each filed suit against Future Graphics LLC.

This recently posted in Recharger Magazine

"Static Control Components and Innovative Cartridge Technologies have each filed suit against Future Graphics LLC."


Apparently teir suit claims that Future Graphics is selling chips which infringe four of the universal chip patents held by ICT and Static Control.

The suit seeks treble damages plus attorneys fees arising out of Future Graphics’ sale of universal chips .

This claim is related to a previous claim brought by Static Control, which Static Control dismissed February 14, 2008, in order that Static Control and ICT could bring both of their claims in a single suit.

ICT and Static Control have cross licensed their portfolio of universal chip patents.

only authorized seller of HP compatible universal chips under these patents is Static Control.

Representatives at Future Graphics declined comment at this time.

Inkjet Printer makes Flat-panel computer displays

Flat-panel computer displays could be manufactured quickly and cheaply using novel inkjet printing equipment demonstrated by Japanese scientists.

Key is NEW Inkjet Head 1000 times smaller than normal

The technique has already been used to produce the delicate wiring and tiny components needed for flexible screens. The new inkjet head is able to produce drops 1,000 times smaller than standard printers, according to the researchers. Writing in the journal PNAS, the team say the technique also improves the performance of printed circuits.

Seems Feasable

"The present work demonstrates the feasibility of employing inkjet technology… for electronic device applications," the University of Tokyo team write in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers have been exploring the use of printing for building electronic devices for a number of decades.

Flexible ?

"Printed electronics could be much bigger than silicon as they have relevance to other applications such as lighting and photovoltaics," Dr Peter Harrop of research firm IDTechEx told BBC News. The technique holds particular promise for so-called "organic" electronics, also known as plastic electronics. These rugged devices are made from organic polymers - already used to make bin bags and solar panels, for example.

The technique can be used to create intricate circuits Making circuits this way would be cheaper and easier than producing conventional silicon devices which must be processed at high temperatures in costly clean room facilities.

Organic

Organic polymers are already manufactured by some firms.

For example, in 2004 electronics giant Philips showed off a concept flexible display, while other companies such as Cambridge Display Technology use the approach to make organic light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

In 2007, UK firm Plastic Logic announced that it would build a plant in Germany to produce flexible organic "control circuits" for use in "electronic paper" displays using the technology.

Small but not small enough

However, printing is still too crude for building high-performance devices such as thin film transistors (TFTs) - used in flat panel displays - which require circuitry just two microns (millionths of a metre) across.

Typically, a standard printer will produce features 50 microns across.
As a result, demonstrations of organic TFT screens have often relied on cumbersome and expensive masks - or stencils - to lay down circuits.
Slow worker

The new work from the University of Tokyo offers a new and more flexible approach.
"This technique can be applied for patterning high-purity electrically functional materials without preparing original patterning masks," the researchers write.

They were able to create finer details by applying a high voltage to the print head, causing drops in the inkjet to explode into one micron droplets. Using ink made of silver nanoparticles held in a solvent, the researchers printed continuous lines two microns wide and components just one micron across. Although these are large by current microprocessor standards - which can have features measured in nanometres (billionths of a metre) - the researchers believe it is good enough for use in TFT screens.

However, they acknowledge that the current prototype is too slow for commercial applications.
As a result, they suggest that their technique should only be used to pattern precise and critical features of circuitry, allowing lower resolution printers to lay down the rest of the pattern.

Ninestar Introduces EverBrite Inks, Eco-saver Cartridges for Epson

ZHUHAI, China — After successfully launching the revolutionary range of EverBrite pigment inks at the ReChina Asia Expo, Ninestar announced EverBrite inks are now featured in their latest patented cartridges designed (Eco-saver) for Epson printers.

Based on a novel patented pigment technology, EverBrite represents a range of pigment inks that provide breakthrough performance not only in its durability, but also in the print performance quality. The full-color set rivals the performance of OEMs in both piezo and thermal printers.

Dr. Yu, Ninestar’s lead color researcher, said that EverBrite inks match or surpass the performance of OEM inks in various areas including the color gamut, fade resistance, water fastness, smudge and highlighter resistance, intercolor bleeding and durability. Documents and photographs printed with EverBrite inks can last up to 110 years without noticeable fade.

The Eco-saver cartridge is an eco-friendly patented design, two-piece system with an outer shell housing the chip technology with self-resetting and a replaceable internal ink tank. With the combination of EverBrite and Eco-saver patented cartridge designs, Ninestar offers a high-end product with revolutionary technology in both ink and cartridges, coupled with strong branding.

“What led to the launch of EverBrite and Eco-saver was the belief that technology innovation and brand marketing will lead to the success of the company,” said Benny Yue, vice general manager of Ninestar. “This new combination will not only dramatically improve the quality of print, but also offer you fully proprietary technologies.”

Epson Lowers Prices in Canada

A small 2 line sentince on Epsons web site for Canadians brings this message.


As the Dollar Gains Strength...
Epson Canada lowers pricing on consumer printers, paper and ink.

Epson releases business inkjet printer in India

Epson announced the launch of the EPSON Stylus™ C110 single function printer. The new business inkjet is aimed specifically at business-users who need the high print speed and crisp black text quality of laser printers, but demand the affordability, accurate colour qualities and paper-type flexibility of inkjet printers.
Best value business proposition

“Laser printers are popular because of their high print speed, precision printouts for monochrome text, and high page yields – that are important for the modern business environment,” said Mr Ram Prasad, Business Manager, Consumer Product Group, Epson India. “However, for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprise) and SOHOs (Small Office Home Office), buying and operating laser printers also represent a hefty cost in terms of initial purchase, toner replacements, and energy consumption.”

He added, “On the other hand, inkjets are looked upon for their ability to produce life-like colours and efficient operating cost. Taking these into consideration, the EPSON Stylus™ C110 inkjet printer incorporates the best about laser printers at the attractive price of an affordable inkjet, thus offering the perfect value proposition to users with medium* print volume.”

Better prints and faster than an average laser printer!

Housed in an elegant black and silver case, the EPSON Stylus™ C110 boasts features and performance that match typical monochrome laser printers. The new inkjet zooms through black text prints at 25 ppm (pages per minute) in quality print mode, or at an incredible 37 ppm in draft mode, all without the long warm up delay apparent in laser printers. A4 colour prints are accomplished at speeds of 11ppm while draft 4R photos can be printed in as little as 49 seconds. Furthermore, utilising the new improved DURABrite Ultra inks ensure razor sharp text quality prints similar to the quality monochrome laser printers can produce.

Specific to the increasing need for colour printouts, users can now enjoy a glossy photo finish possible only on inkjet systems. Using the new improved DURABrite Ultra inks, users can expect the prints so durable that they last a lifetime. What’s more, only DURABrite Ultra inks can offer the combination of amazing fade, smudge and water resistance qualities needed in business environments.

Another unbeatable feature of using inkjets is the ability to print on a wide array of media including photo paper, photo stickers and CD sleeves while laser printers are normally limited to plain paper and envelopes

Moody's makes rating cut for Lexmark senior unsecured to 'Baa1'

Moody Announces Rating Change for Lexmark

Moody's Investors Service said it lowered the long-term senior unsecured rating of Lexmark International Inc (NYSE:LXK) to 'Baa1' from 'A3'.

$450 Million credit involved

The ratings lowered include the senior unsecured 150 mln usd note due May 2008 and senior unsecured 300 mln usd bank revolving credit facility maturing 2010.

Weaker Results significantly

Moody's said the downgrade reflects prospects for significantly weaker than expected operating results in the second and third fiscal quarters and the likelihood that ongoing pricing pressure throughout its laser and inkjet product offerings, a less robust installed base of inkjet units, a developing change by customers in using less profitable moderate use inkjet cartridges, and the need to increase product development and marketing spending will all contribute to weaker than historical results for Lexmark.

HP Technology to Create Industry-first Skin Patch for “Smart” Drug Delivery

Fusion of high-tech and biotech improves safety, efficacy and ease-of-use for patients

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 11, 2007

Inkjet based skin patch

HP and Crospon, a medical device developer based in Galway, Ireland, today announced they have entered a licensing agreement for a drug delivery platform that enables painless, controlled release of one or more drugs in a single patch applied to the skin.

Under the agreement, HP will license its intellectual property to Crospon in return for royalty payments. Crospon will commercialize the patch, which was invented by HP Labs, the company’s central research facility, and make it available to pharmaceutical companies to use in various therapeutic areas.

Crospon, which recently announced the finalization of €2.3 million in seed financing, will manufacture the skin patch and manage all marketing, sales and support of the technology.

The patch delivers medication intradermally

The patch delivers medication intradermally – just below the surface of the skin – and enables precise control of dosage timing, access to dosage history, patient activation mechanisms and inherent safety protocols for preventing adverse drug interactions.

Transdermal patches (which rely on absorption through the skin) for nicotine delivery have become a mainstay for smoking cessation programs; however, they have not been a widely effective delivery mechanism for many drugs because the skin acts as a natural barrier.

Micro Needles

The HP-developed skin patch uses microneedles that barely penetrate the skin; this radically reduces discomfort compared to traditional hypodermic needles and enables the technique to be used with a much wider variety of drugs and biopharmaceuticals. The microneedles allow medication to quickly enter the bloodstream, resulting in the potential delivery of lower and more precise dosages.

HP initially developed the drug delivery technology as a way to repurpose its inkjet technology for use in new markets. The technology in the skin patch is similar to that employed in HP’s patented process for its inkjet cartridges.

“This industry-first skin patch invented by HP allows Crospon to offer a superior drug delivery platform for doctors and patients,” said John O’Dea, chief executive officer, Crospon. “We look forward to working with our pharmaceutical customers to bring this breakthrough solution to the market.”

Presto (granny-mail machine)

Computer illiterate
Most of us have a relatives or friends who have never joined the wired Internet world. They haven't gotten around to buying a computer, or even learning to use one.

Not to worry, you can still jump on the email bandwagon with this latest printer from HP.

Granny Mail Machine (GMM)

A GMM is a single-purpose computer that handles e-mail only, over a dialup connection, and requires minimal technical skill . (A term coined by Mike Himowitz of the Baltimore Sun)


A10 Printing Mailbox



Hewlett-Packard and a startup called Presto.com have joined forces with a one-way e-mail service and a stand-alone GMM that Hewlett Packard calls the A10 Printing Mailbox.
(You can pick one up at Best Buy, or Walmart online)

HP Printing Mailbox Product Details

Features

Prints email, including photo attachments sent from almost any email program.
Automatically retrieves and prints pages.

Simple installation—just plug into power and standard phone line.

Specifics

Hewlett-Packard Thermal Inkjet Technology.

Paper Tray - Letter size (8.5 x 1-inch).
Input Capacity—50 sheets.
Output Capacity—25 sheets.
Print Cartridge— - HP 95 or 97 Tri-Color Inkjet Print Cartridge recommended.
Print Quality—600 x 600 dpi.
Print Speed—10 pages per minute (max).
Phone Connection—Standard phone line (no separate line required; does not work with VOIP).
Modem—56K data modem.
Length—18.4 inches.
Width—15 inches.
Height—6.5 inches.
Weight—13 pounds.

Service and Support

One-year limited hardware warranty.
HP Customer Care service and support for hardware.
Free support from Presto via toll-free number.

How Much and How does it work ?




The A10 is a $100 color inkjet printer with built-in computing modem to dial Presto's servers automatically up to five times a day, and download awaiting messages and print them automatically. It will also print photographs attached to the e-mail.

Easy to Use

Send email just like you do from your regular email account and the HP Printing Mailbox will print it. The Printing Mailbox user just has to pick up their mail—like an indoor mailbox. It's that easy


Presto Service Costs

The Presto Service costs $10 a month, or $99 for a full year

• Presto automatically formats the messages into beautiful designs

• No spam—Presto only delivers messages sent by approved family and friends
• Send unlimited messages to the HP Printing Mailbox.

Presto Newsstand

Your Presto subscription gives you free access to articles, recipes, games, puzzles, and more from major publishers. Including Dow Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, and the Wall Street Journal. And it's absolutely free, delivered to the Printing Mailbox at no extra charge.

Arts and Entertainment
Astrology
Automotive
Crosswords and Puzzles
Food and Recipes
Health and Fitness
Hobbies and Crafts
Home and Garden
Humor
Living and Lifestyle
Personal Finance
Travel


Print Quality

A10's print quality is nothing to e-mail home about. Although text is readable and photos recognizable, HP has used its three-color print cartridge (HP 95 Tri-Color Inkjet Print Cartridge ) technology on this machine.

It produces black from the 3 colors so photos look slightly faded. Today's modern inkjets use at least three colors plus a black cartridge. So don't expect to send photo-quality prints - you would be disappointed.

Note: Presto supports only a few basic photo attachment formats (such as JPEGs). No PDFs

A Niche Market that needed filling

A great gift for an elderly person who you want to keep up to date with the latest family happenings.You never to old to get email anymore....

Nanotube Memory

Nantero, HP explore inkjet printing of nanotube memory

LONDON — Nantero Inc. (Woburn, Mass.), a company developing a nonvolatile memory based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), has said it is exploring flexible electronics applications with Hewlett Packard Co. (Palo Alto, Calif.).

Flexible Memory Products

Nantero said it is working with HP to explore the use of HP inkjet technology and Nanteros carbon nanotube (CNT) formulation to create flexible electronics products and develop low-cost printable memory.

Thermal Inkjet prints Flexible Memory

Specifically Nantero said it is using an HP thermal inkjet research and development tool to evaluate inkjet technology for printable memory in such applications as low-cost RFID tags.

TIPS Tools make the difference

HP's TIPS R&D tool provides heads with multiple nozzles, large drop size range, and programmable volume. The collaboration is part of an HP initiative to extend HP inkjet printing technology into applications where accurate placement of small drops and deposition of precise volumes of fluid is required, Nantero said.

NRAM Memory Cell

"Working with HP and its TIPS system to explore the printability of our NRAM memory cell can open up entirely new application spaces in the memory segment," said Greg Schmergel, CEO and co-founder of Nantero, in a statement. "For example, a printable NRAM memory could be deposited on flexible substrates to enable very low cost RFID tags."

"For the semiconductor industry, this approach may offer both substantial cost advantages as well as enable new electronics applications on flexible substrates when combined with technology such as Nanteros material system and memory expertise," said Kathy Tobin, vice president of Specialty Printing Systems at HP, in the same statement.

Silverbrook's Memjet Technology Announced

Doubling Inkjet Print Speeds

Silverbrook Research (Australia)announces a revolutionary Memjet inkjet printer technology.
With the new technology presented March 15th, 2007 by Lyra Research, They offered a glimpse of inkjet printer technology printing at speeds of one page per second. Rivaling/exceeding current laser printer print speeds.

Details to Be Released Global Ink Jet Printing Conference

The technology has not been publicly released . Kia Silverbrook, the chairman and CEO of Silverbrook Research, plans to discuss the technology at the Global Ink Jet Printing Conference this week in the Czech Republic.

Technology

The technology utilizes wider printheads (See Metawatch Blog Inkjet Speed Breakthrough ) 8 inches in the case for a letter-size printer eliminating the mechanical head assembly on traditional inkjet printers today.

Memjet technology also uses powerful microchips that reduce the time it takes a printer to process information, like photos, sent to it from a computer. These microchips allow for offloading the traditional CPU from pre-print processing.

Licensing

Silverbrook Research, an Australian research-and-development firm, has received over 1,000 U.S. patents in the last decade and more than 400 last year specifically related to inkjet technology, said Steve Hoffenberg, Lyra's director

Silverbrook, Hoffenberg said, plans to license the technology to a series of companies it has set up that would then license it to other firms.

Home Based Products

Eventual products could include home printers, photo printers, wide-format printers etc. A home inkjet printer could be priced as low as $199, Hoffenberg said, which would include up to five ink tanks .Current prototypes show the tanks hold about five times more ink than the typical cartridge today.

A design for a photo printer, with a possible price of about $149, Hoffenberg said

Seeing is believing

A video of a prototype home Memjet inkjet printer at work is available online at www.lyra.com/lh3m.nsf/memjet or Google video http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1996259363769507120&q=memjet.

Canon MP 600 Top marks, Failing grade

Canon's MP 600 Top Printer

Canon's MP 600 was recently chosen by PC World as the top printer (Inkjet). They gave the printer a rating of 85, topping all the other competition.

Pros

# High print quality, fast print speeds# Dual paper trays; built-in duplexer

Cons

# No fax capability or ADF# Lacks film scanning

MP600 Failing grade

We have done, and continue to review the printers on the market but we take into consideration overall cost of use of these printers. This includes using 3rd party compatible inkjet cartridges.
Yup thats right. The MP 600 doesn't use an existing cartridge that is supported by 3rd party manufacturers locking you into purchasing OEM Genuine products,and as a result increasing your overall cost of ownership (Lifecycle cost) well beyond that of those printers using third party products.

Tell the Manufacturers

Its about time the manufacturers of these printers recognize that there is a truely competitive, open marketplace where users want and purchase their printers based on economy of use.

Let the people choose who's products to use, and let the market decide the best overall pricing for the consumer. Gone are the days of protectionist trade. Free trade is where it is at !